Defenders of the Earth is a single-player action, shooter, and platformer game in which players control one of the veteran comic-book heroes to navigate through various levels, shooting enemies and overcoming obstacles. In this game, the storyline revolves around the heroes Flash Gordon, Lothar, the Phantom, and Mandrake, who set out to rescue their children after Ming the Merciless kidnaps them, leading to a series of challenging missions. It stands out with its side-scrolling gameplay, the ability to call on other heroes for assistance in opening doors and creating diversions, and the need for quick progression to avoid detection by Ming's security cameras, adding strategic elements to the action.